Yanks' hurlers not upset with batters

Friday

Oct 12, 2012 at 2:00 AM

NEW YORK — Yankees pitchers Phil Hughes and David Phelps were not frustrated that the Yankees could score just one run over 13 innings in Thursday's 2-1 loss to Baltimore in game four of the American League Division Series.

WILLIAM MONTGOMERY

NEW YORK — Yankees pitchers Phil Hughes and David Phelps were not frustrated that the Yankees could score just one run over 13 innings in Thursday's 2-1 loss to Baltimore in game four of the American League Division Series.

"I don't know about that," Hughes said. "These guys are professionals and they've been there before. It's all a matter of getting a big hit when you need it."

For Phelps, who took the loss in his postseason debut, he just had to shrug off the lack of run support as a part of the game.

"No, because all throughout the season they've scored runs for us," he said. "It's going to happen from time to time. That's baseball."

Even game five starter CC Sabathia discussed how hard it is to score runs at this time of year.

"We have a great lineup," he said. "We have great players in our lineup. You know, any time we can bust out and score a bunch."

Joba Chamberlain was taken out of the game in the top of the 12th inning after having been hit in the right elbow with Matt Wieter's broken bat.

Chamberlain tried to loosen up on the mound after being hit, but was replaced by David Phelps after throwing just two pitches in the 12th.

"I'll see how it feels tomorrow," he said. "We'll go from there."

Chamberlain also considered himself fortunate, as he didn't pick up the bat shard flying at him until it was almost too late.

"Thank God it didn't hit me in the head," he said. "I'll take this over getting hit in the head for sure."

The Yankees and Orioles will send out the same starters for game five as they did in game one.

New York will pitch ace CC Sabathia against Baltimore's Jason Hammel.

"It's time to go," Sabathia said. "You know, this is what you play for. That's a good team over there we've been battling all year, so hopefully I can go out and have a good performance and keep us in the game and give us a chance to win."

The winner of Friday's game five will play Detroit in the ALCS. The Tigers used top pitcher Justin Verlander twice in the series to beat Oakland. New York finds itself in the same position, having to turn to Sabathia yet again.

"I feel good about the way he's pitching," Girardi said. "He's pitched extremely well. If you have a deciding game, you want your ace."

Hammel was sidelined with a knee injury in mid-July and returned for two starts in September before being shut down again. He took a no decision in a game one ALDS start against Sabathia.

"Jason feels fine," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. "He feels as good as he has all year."

wmontgomery@th-record.com

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